Laurie Murphy Architect

Primarily engaged in planning and designing commercial and residential buildings and structures by applying knowledge of design, construction procedures, zoning regulations, building codes, accessibility requirements, and building materials.  Ability to manage and offer complete design including civil, landscaping, structural, MEP engineering, and interior design.  Services also include providing as-built services for existing buildings.  Previous project types include warehouse, maintenance garage, retail, bank, medical office, church, office, hotel, apartments, restaurant, and residential.

From 2007 through 2016 had the unique opportunity to work contract for an Arlington based design build general contractor as a construction Project Manager, Project Architect, and then as Director of Design Build Services.  The majority of the projects were for a Fortune 500 company nationwide doing new warehouses, warehouse expansions, office expansions, office remodels, DFW Airport children play spaces, and national roll-out programs for sites and buildings upgrades.  This was an invaluable experience for an architect to be on the contractor side, managing projects and subcontractors, from pre-design, design, construction document phase, permitting with authorities having jurisdiction, project bidding, budgets, subcontractor selection, contracts, schedules, material and equipment ordering, project mobilization, weekly conference calls, construction phase, close-out, and as-builts.  This opportunity allowed me to gain experience outside of a typical architect role and to better understand methods, procedures and materials as it relates to contractors and construction.

Self employed since 1998 providing contract drafting services to architects, general contractors, interior designers, and private individuals.  Qualified to sit for my architectural exams in 1999 but put it off due to work and family obligations.  Finally made the decision to take the Architectural Registration Exams (ARE) in November 2013 and completed final 7th exam May 2014.  Very proud to have accomplished this within 6 months.

Initially started aerospace engineering degree studies in college but quickly found it was not a good fit, then discovered the School of Architecture.  Incidentally I took a career placement exam after college while working at my first job with a Fort Worth architect, the results said I should be doing exactly what I was doing.  I enjoy what I do, and I do it well!